Combined ironing-board and step-ladder.



N. STAFFORD. COMBINED IRONING BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1910. t

v Pat' ented June 27, 1911.

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I 11. STAFFURD'. COMBINED IRONING BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

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APPLQIOATION FILED JULY 18, 1910.

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N. STAFFORD. COMBINED IRQNING BOARD AND STEP LADDER.

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NEWTON STAFFORD, OF .ALTAMONT,' NEW YORK.

COMBINED IRONING-BOARD AND STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 18, 1910. Serial No. 572,578.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWTON STAFFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altamont, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Ironing; Boards and Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to ironing tables and has especial reference to ironing tables which are combined with a ladder whereby the device may be converted from an ironing table into a ladder, and vice versa. In this class of devices an ironing board or an ironing table has been provided with a ladder foldable against the board or table, the parts being so constructed and arranged that they may be unfolded and extended and set up in different positions, according to the use for which the device is required.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus of this kind which can be employed as an ironing-board table or as a step-ladder, as a support upon which to rest wash tubs, and also in conjunc tion with the ironing-board table to be utilized for hanging and drying clothes.

The invention consists in an improved.

apparatus of this kind and in details of construction as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:-Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a combined ironing board and ladder device constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown in tilted position so as to disclose several parts of the device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of one of the bars showing the means for securing the bar in position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a device in the apparatus for fastening one of the movable members in place. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line w00, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line g g Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective showing the apparatus in position for use as a step-ladder. 'Fig. 7 is a side view in vertical section of the device shown in Fig. 6, on the line zz. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the rod connecting two of the movable members together. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in perspective of a portion of the apparatus in position as a support for wash tubs. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section of the hinged portion of two of the movable members. Fig. 11 is a side View in vertical section of a portion of the apparatus detached. Fig. 12 is an en larged detail view in vertical section of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 11.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 indicates an ironing board having an end portion 2 hinged to the main part by hinges 2 so as to be swung to a right angle thereto, as shown in Fig. 6. The hinged portion 2 when in normal extended position is supported by bars 3 secured to the main portion of the ironing board and projecting beneath the hinged portion 2. The hinged portion 2 when in the position shown in Fig. 6 is supported by means of link joints 4; connected at one end to the hinged portion 2 and at the other end to the bars 3.

Mounted on the under side of the ironing board 1 and extending longitudinally thereof adjacent to each side of the ironing board are angle strips 5 in which is located and adapted to slide a clothes drying frame 6, having angle side bars 6 adapted to slide in said angle bars 5 and cross rods 6 on which the clothes to be dried are hung. Hinged to the ladderdike frame 6 between its ends is a short ladder-like frame 7 having side bars 8 and cross rods 8 said frame 7 being hinged to the frame 6 by a suitable hinge as, for example, by a wire 7 coiled about one of the cross rods 8 of the frame 6 and secured at its other end to the short frame 7. I

Depending from one end of the main portion of the ironing board adjacent to the hinged portion 2 is a block or bracket 9 to which is hinged by a detachable pin 10 a ladder 11, the upper portion of said ladder being provided with steps 12 and the lower sides 13 of said ladder being devoid of steps. Hinged to the ladder 11 and adapted to swing within the same is a short ladder 14 provided with hinged hook arms 15 which when not in use are held in place by other hook ends engaging eyes 15 on one of the steps of the ladder, said ladder having a fastening device 16 thereon adapted to engage a projection 17 on the legs 13 of the ladder 11, when the ladder 14 is in unset position. Said ladder 14 is hinged to the ladder 11 by a rod 18 which extends through the legs of the ladder 11 and through a pair of arms 19, each having an elongated slot 20, the rod 18 extending through said slot Patented June 27, 1911.

and being held in place therein by a button or head 21 at each end thereof, said rod adapted to engage an angular slot 21, the bars 19 connected at their end by means of a cross bar 22 which is adapted to be seated in a pair of blocks or brackets 23, each mounted on the angular bar 5 of the ironing board and having a slot 24 in which said bar 22 is adapted to be seated and held therein by means of a latch 25 which swings over the slot 24. Pivoted to each leg of the ladder 11 adjacent to its hinged end is a bar 26 having a notched end 27, said bar 26 being adapted, when the device is swung into position as shown in Fig. 9, to have its notched end rest upon the cross bar 22.

By means of the apparatus hereinbefore described, the device may be converted lnto the different combinations shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 9, the arrangement in Fig. 1 showing it used as an ironing-board table, the ladder 11 extending in inclined positlon from the under side of the ironing board 1 and serving as one of the supports for the table or board, and the short ladder 14 having been swung out from the ladder 11 and fastened in place by means of its hook arm 15 engaging eyelets 15 on the legs 13 of the ladder. Extending in alinement with the short ladder 14 are the bars 19 which have been adjusted so as to extend in inclined position from the under side of the ironing table or board, the cross bar 22 belng seated in the blocks 23 and being fastened in place by the latches 25. The rod 18 on the short ladder 14 holds the ladder securely in place by being held in the angular slot 7 21 at the end of the slot 20 in the bar 19.

In this position, the frame 6 may be drawn out to any desired extent and the short frame 7 swung out at an angle thereto and held in position by any suitable means so that the clothes which are to be dried may be hung on the rungs or cross bars of the frames 6 and 7, or the frame 6 maybe drawn entirely out of the angular bars 5 and be set up in the position shown in Fig. 11, the short frame 7 serving as an inclined braceor support for the longer frame 6.

In the use of the device shown in Fig. 6, it has been converted into a step-ladder, the ironing board 1 resting in a vertical position on the ground or floor and the ladder 11 having been swung at an inclined position and securely held in such position by means of the pivoted bars 19 held in an inclined position by means of the buttons 21. The cross bar 22 of the bars 19 rests in the sockets 24 of the blocks 23 being held in there by the latches 25. In this position, the short ladder 14 is folded into the ladder 11 and held in place by the fastening devices 16. In this use of the ironing board and ladder, the frames 6 and 7 are withdrawn from the same, the depending block 9 when in the position shown in Fig. 6 serves as the top of the step-ladder and the hinged portion 2 of the ironing board, in the angular position shown, serves as a support for the pail or,

other utensils desired to be used.

In the use of the device shown in Fig. 9, the ladder has been detached from the ironing board by withdrawing the pin 10 and the ladder 14 has been thrown out to an angular position and held by its hook arms 15 engaging eyelets 15 in the legs 13 of the ladder, the ladder being in a horizontal position and supported by the inclined short ladder 14 and the bars 19 which have been moved into an inclined position with their ends connected to the cross bar 22 resting on the ground and their other ends secured to the ladder 11 by the buttons 21, the ladder being braced at one end by means of the pivoted bars 27 which have been swung out so as to have their inner ends resting on the cross bars 22.

It will be seen that by means of this invention .parts may be compactly folded to gether so as to take up Very little room and may be rapidly swung out into the different positions described and secured together so as to be conveniently set up and used either as an ironing board table, or as a step-ladder, or as a support for tubs, or other objects, as well as in conjunction therewith to hang clothes on for drying purposes.

That I claim as my invention is 1. I11 an apparatus of the kinddescribed, an ironing board provided with a hinged extension at one end adapted to be swung at a right angle to the main portion of the ironing board and serving as a platform when in such position, means for fastening said extension in such position, a. block projecting from the ironing board adjacent to the part to which said extension is hinged and on the opposite side of the board from that to which the extension is adapted to be swung at a right angle thereto, a step ladder hinged to said block, the latter serving as the top of the step ladder, and adjustable braces, each slidably connected at one end to said step ladder, and detachably and slidably connected at the other end to said ironing board.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a step-ladder having its upper portion formed with fixed steps, a second stepladder hinged within said step-ladder, means for holding said second step-ladder in inclined position, a pair of brace bars hinged to the main step-ladder and slidablv adjustable thereon at one end and havin a cross bar at their opposite end, and pivoted arms on said main step-ladder adapted to be swung into engagement with said cross bar on said braces.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, an ironing board having a hinged portion at one end adapted to be swung into position at a right angle to said board, and forming a platform extension at the extreme end of the ironing board, a pair of arms projecting from said ironing board serving as supports for said hinged portion, a link connection between said arms and said hinged portion, a block depending from said ironing board adjacent to said hinged portion, a step-ladder detachably hinged to said block having fixed steps in its upper portion, said block forming a platform step for the top of the step-ladder, a short stepladder hinged at its lower portion, brace rods connected with said second step-ladder for holding it in extended position outside of said main step-ladder, a pair of brace arms having a cross bar at one end, each having a longitudinal slot, a rod extending through both of said step-ladders and their side brace bars, means for adjustably supporting said ironing board on said rod, and notched brackets on the ironing board adapted to engage and hold the ends of said brace bars.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NEWTON STAFFORD.

Witnesses:

WILLARD H. BOARDMAN, WILLARD OGSBURY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

